Posted on 08/01/2007 11:19:04 AM PDT by Salvation
Adhering to these would help greatly in producing a holy Novus Ordo for all.
We've all seen the pictures (dancing, etc.) Please, Not here, again.
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A very good article. I emailed it to my sister.
I wish laypeople would just quit trying to be priests/priestesses by using the “orans” position with their hands when the priest says, “The Lord be with you”, and they reply “And also with you”.
Thanks Sal.
Don’t forget the Clown Mass. (crosses self, prays for mercy)
2. Interrupting the Mass.
When I attend the Tridentine Mass, officiated by the Society of St. Peter, they always have announcements prior to the homily. Is this practice wrong?
During the Novus Ordo, at our local cathedral, announcements precede the Dismissal and recessional. Again, is this practice wrong?
When I read through the list, I wondered if there are any parishes where at least one of those abuses isn’t happening, either by ignorance or design. Even at my parish, which is great in nine out of the ten, every Mass has “eucharistic ministers” (we have six priests if you count three “in residence”). When the previous pastor was around, there were always two priests at every Mass for the Eucharist. Even at the 7:30 a.m. Mass I usually attend on Sundays. Since he retired in June 2006, his replacement has whittled things down. We have one priest for the 7:30 a.m Sunday Mass, the rest are “eucharistic ministers”. At least the priest still distributes the Eucharist at my parish; when I was out of town in May 2006, I saw a priest sit down after the consecration while a female E.M. opened the Tabernacle, took everything out, and then the rest of the E.M.s (all women) walked over to the various places to distribute the wafers. Needless to say, I chose not to participate in that particular “eucharist” and let everyone else on my row. They looked so “surprised” that I didn’t walk my rusty dusty down the aisle with them!
Thanks for posting.
We have one visiting priest who refuses to call God “Father” and during consecration he gives the bread and wine to his “friends”
And on and on. His changes make me want to leave and go to a different Mass.
The only benefit is that I can discuss these abuses with my children on the drive home!
About the holding hands during the Pater Noster, someone explained this so well, it was someone in the Vatican, can’t remember who (has an Arinze-like tone, but not sure, maybe it was even Cardinal Ratzinger?) — it’s inappropriate because the hand-holding is NOT a sign of unity (as some argue for being the reason to hold hands) but rather it is a sign of intimacy. It’s physical and personal, and not conducive to the meaning of saying the prayer together to God.
My understanding is the first is wrong, there should be no announcements before or after a homily in either Rite.
For the second, I believe it’s OK to have the announcements as you describe, but distinctly separate from the post-Communion period, so there is one extra sitting and standing, in other words, announcements just before the final blessing...?
Humor can be used to make a powerful point when used in the right way in a homily but habitual insertion of frivolous material for the purpose of "holding" the "audience" is detrimental to inner recollection and prayer, in my opinion.
The "announcements" spot seems to be the favorite time for banter and jokes. I know several priests who use an embarrassingly short thanksgiving after Communion and then launch straight into the announcements, complete with wisecracks and gags when people have barely had time for thanksgiving and are still deep in prayer. It contributes to the "circus" atmosphere of Holy Communion, along with the gaggle of EEMs and the pew-clambering "sign of peace".
It sucks.
This is not correct....
“This is oddly widespread in the United States but it’s an illicit addition to the liturgy. The official publication of the Sacred Congregation for the Sacrament sand Divine Worship, Notitiae (11 [1975] 226), states the practice “must be repudiated . . . it is a liturgical gesture introduced spontaneously but on a personal initiative; it is not in the rubrics.” And anything not in the rubrics is unlawful, again because “no other person . . . may add . . . anything [to] the liturgy on his own authority” (ibid).”
If one goes back and reads the actual document, it is about replacing the Handshake of Peace with handholding, not handholding alone.
That being said, I used to be the Handholding expert before I was tossed from Catholic Answers Forums. Most people who like this “Prayer Posture” will say, “Are you going to tell me that I can’t hold my husband’s hand???” No, but it is a posture that should not be encouraged as it makes worship horizontal.
So why not hold hands at the Gospel? How about at the consecration? Why the “Our Father”? Because we say “Our”?
I like the way the Diocese of St. Louis explains it...
“Is holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer allowed or encouraged?
BCL Newsletter, October-November 1989
No. The community’s corporate act of receiving communion is the primary symbol of unity with Christ and the Church. The Sign of Peace immediately preceding the reception of Communion is a liturgical rite that should not be minimized or duplicated in any way. A separate but related issue is the situation of individuals who for personal reasons feel uncomfortable with the practice of holding hands. In this case those individuals feel increasingly excluded from the worshipping community. Sensitivity is needed to include all and draw all to the true symbol of unity.”
From their website...
http://www.archstl.org/worship/girm.html
If you are at a LifeTeen or Charismatic Mass, expect it.
At every mass in the parish? Discourage it.
I attended a Mass in Canton this weekend.
I was trying to get my niece back to attending so we did a LifeTeen. This was my first.
The church itself looked like the Mothership. The tabernacle was hidden back in an alcove behind everyone. My hubby said, the candle wasn’t lit, but it was. Two women in jeans opened it and closed it after communion. *sigh*
Even my niece said, that was way too much.
And BTW, why is everyone so spooked about the Latin Mass. At this LifeTeen, we responded maybe three times. The rest was “performed” by the Lounge act in the back. So what is the big deal about no laity participation? We didn’t either!
See Father Neuhaus on the (episcopally approved) NAB 70 or 70 x 7?:
The NAB is a banal, linguistically inept, and misleading translation. Why did the bishops force it upon the Catholic people, demanding that it and it alone be used in the readings of the Mass? Various answers are given: Because it was produced by the guild of Catholic biblical scholars and, while it may not be very good, at least it is ours. Because the bishops hold the copyright, and charges for using the NAB in Mass guides and elsewhere is a cash cow for the financially strapped bishops conference. Because the bishops really don’t care whether Catholics use a worthy and reliable translation of the Bible.Whatever the reason, it is a continuing scandal that the bishops do not permit the use of other translations that are more reliable, readable, intelligible, and worthy of the written word of God. The best of them is the Revised Standard Version (RSV), but there are others. (For personal and group Bible study, the Catholic edition of the RSV, published by Ignatius Press, is recommended.)
It is worth noting that the NAB, unlike a number of other translations, is used only by Catholics in the United States and used only by them because they are required to use it in the liturgy. In their own writings, Catholic biblical scholars and other writers generally avoid the NAB. Not surprisingly, the NAB is defended by those who are responsible for producing it, and people who choose to do so are free to use it. It is quite another thing for the bishops to impose the exclusive use of a grievously flawed Bible translation upon the Catholic faithful at Mass.
While my home parish, which I’ve been at since I crossed the Tiber in 9/03, is still very good in most respects, when our wonderful pastor retired in 6/06 (he was a magnificent Irish dreadnought of the old school), it hasn’t been quite the same since the new pastor started in 7/06. Only one priest at 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, letting E.M.s open the Tabernacle at Communion (under Fr. O’Brien, every Mass had two priests, or a priest and a decon, or two priests and at least one deacon), instituting a “contemporary music” Mass (7 p.m. Sundays). Doctrinally, they’re still quite solid. No liberal aganda foo-ha at Mass or in homilies. There is still overall reverence at the Mass and the Eucharist. It is still a beautiful old church with the Tabernacle very prominent. Still, there is a bit of sloppiness or laziness that has crept in since the new pastor took over. Fr. O’Brien ran a proper tight ship and I miss him very much.
The best Mass I’ve ever attended (with the exception of those Fr. O’Brien presided) was the Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy at the Byzantine Rite parish in Williamsburg, VA, which I attend whenever I visit Williamsburg. Only clergy and deacons at the altar, absolutely no “civilians” of any kind at the altar. I became a big fan of Eastern Catholics after attending my first Divine Liturgy there.
There are two Eastern Rite parishes in the Diocese of Arlington, VA - a Byzantine Rite in Annandale, and a Greek Melkite on in McLean. Should more of the “usual” abuses ever start up in my current parish, I will be voting with my feet to one of the two Eastern parishes.
How about all the attempted hugging during the “sign of Peace?
I considered Eastern Rite before finding my innovation free parish.
Watch EWTN. We get that Holy Mass every day!
That “huggy” stuff gets to me. It is minimal at my home parish, but when I’ve traveled (again with the exception of the Bytantine parish in Williamsburg, VA and the Maronite parish in Roanoke, VA), I thought I was at some sort of love-in. Everybody going into turbo-hug mode. I’ve snatched my hands away more times at the “Our Father” when I’ve traveled....and the looks I get when I do! LOL!
Kissy-face/huggy-bear stuff is fine outside of Mass. A simple handshake and smile or nod and smile is enough for Mass.
The Mass televised on EWTN is great! Mother Angelica would never tolerate any type of foolishness, Lord love her!
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